When Jenny Gump's friends decided to sign up as a group for a local 5K, she only could think of one thing.

"I hate running."

However, she had to admit she was a little out of shape and not at her ideal weight since having a baby. On top of that, her blood pressure and blood sugar were out of whack. She needed something to get her off of the couch each day: Why not let it be running with her friends?

That's when the stubborn side of her personality took control. If she was going to do this, she was determined to train for the race and do it to the best of her ability.

Gump and her friends used a Couch-to-5K program to help them train. It takes users through a series of walks and light jogs during a period of several weeks. Every morning, the women would get together to tackle the next.

"I was the slowest in the group," said Gump, 39, of Newark. "But I kept doing it. After eight weeks, it says you're ready for a 5K and I'm thinking, 'Oh God, can we really do that?'"

It turns out they could. Each of the women in Gump's group was able to complete the race without walking. After they crossed the finish line, their thoughts immediately turned to registering for another 5K. The group would email each other every time one of them came across a 5K in town and, the next thing she knew, Gump had run six 5Ks in a matter of months.

Gump's closet began overflowing with race T-shirts and her bathroom wall was taken over by framed race bibs. She was hooked.

The races have exploded in popularity during the past few years, becoming a favorite way for many to get active while raising money for local causes.

Cindy Warner, 49, of Johnstown, said she thinks there are a couple of reasons to explain the 5K obsession.

First, a 5K is one of the shortest races someone can run, coming in at 3.1 miles. That distance might not seem so daunting to someone who is new to running, Warner said, thus making the race popular among beginners.

There also are a number of programs, apps and Internet resources available to people who want to train for a 5K, even if they're starting from square one. The fact that most races come with a free T-shirt, food and a chance to be social with others also is a big draw, she said.

"I've noticed some of my friends, especially ones who have never worked out ever, they're in their 40s and they're searching for something to make themselves better. I don't know if it's a midlife crisis thing or what. But they're like, 'I'm going to sign up for a 5K.' They're fun," Warner said. "That's why I think it's catching on. Anyone can do it."

Warner had been a casual runner in her 20s but never really was consistent with it. After having her first child at 29 years old, she decided to pick it up again.

However, she mostly stuck to the treadmill at the gym. People would see her running and ask what she was training for, to which Warner would reply, nothing. Warner always told herself she never would race, because what was the point?

When a friend finally talked her into running a 5K, Warner placed third overall. Her competitive juices kicked in and she decided to sign up for a marathon. After completing her first marathon, Warner swore she never would do another one because she was so sore.

She's now run eight marathons and is signed up for her ninth.

One of her most memorable experiences has come from competing in races: Warner had the opportunity to run in the Boston Marathon in 2010.

When she crossed the finish line in Boston, Warner broke down and cried. She didn't have any family waiting for her at the end of the race, but the passion of the crowd of strangers cheering on the runners as they finished was enough to move her to tears.

"I'm like, oh my gosh, I just finished the Boston Marathon. It totally freaked me out and overwhelmed me," Warner said. "Crossing a finish line can be very satisfying, and no one can take that way from you."

Now that she's moved on to marathon running, Warner cycles 5Ks into her schedule as a way to speed train. What used to feel like such an accomplishment has become just a small step on the race to bigger things, something she never would have thought possible.

"That's the thing about running, it gets you started on a pathway you never thought you would go down. It's like the challenges are never-ending," Warner said.

Although meeting personal goals is a big part of running for Lacey Snoke, 36, of Carroll, her biggest motivation is a 9-year-old boy named Alex who was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

Snoke met Alex through I Run 4, a website that links runners with people who have physical and development disabilities that prevent them from being able to participate in activities such as running.

Because Alex can't run, Snoke runs for him.

She post details about each of her runs on a Facebook page so Alex's family can share them with him. Sometimes it's an update on how far she ran; other times she shares pictures from various 5Ks in which she has participated. Snoke even has sent some of the medals she has earned from her races to Alex so he really can feel like he was a part of the event.

The program is meant to provide support and encouragement to people with disabilities, but Snoke has found it also does something for her. It gives her something to run for.

"When I'm having a really hard time finishing a race, I have a little mantra I say. I say, 'I run for Alex' over and over again," Snoke said. "For me, it's not about being the fastest, it's just about getting out there and doing something I enjoy. It's a way to extend myself and put myself out there for someone else."

The Ontario community has used a 5K as a way to come together to remember resident Brian Ward, who died unexpectedly in 2012. The Brian Ward Memorial 5K Charity Run/Walk initially started as a way to help the family with funeral costs, but it grew into something more.

"Even though Brian's no longer with us, it's important to keep his memory alive," Jon VanHouten, a family friend who helped organize the event, told Gannett Ohio earlier this year.

The race now provides scholarship money for area students.

Supporting local causes can be one of the most meaningful parts of running for many 5K participants. It certainly is the case for Snoke.

But it's also been a way to get involved in a whole new community.

Runners tend to form a tight bond, Snoke said. If she ever overhears someone talking about a race in which he or she ran, she feels comfortable going up to him or her to share her own experiences. And at every race she has participated in, Snoke has seen nothing but love and support among the runners, who encourage each other all the way to the finish line.

She knows running isn't for everyone, but for anyone out there who has thought about trying it out, Snoke suggests starting slow. Every day gets a little easier, she said, and nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment that comes after finishing a tough run.

"When you cross the finish line, it's such a good feeling. You realize you've started this race with hundreds of other people and you actually finished it. It's a powerful moment."